This is an example of an inexpensive programmer made in the days when one could scrape together a few hundred dollars and become a producer. It was supposed to be the first offering of the "Character Pictures Corporation," released by small-time Rialto Productions. The star was Paul Gilmore, a stage actor who had done some films here and there over the years, supposedly back to the 1890s. Well, that may be so, but in 1920, he had'nt become a superstar.
The story has him selling his Philippine ranch, which he has worked very hard for many years on, and now he's selling out so he can take his fiancée to New York where they will settle down. She has a friend, a guy who has never worked and has lots of smooth blather of "the best things in life are free" sort. When Gilmore and his lady leave for home, the wandering free soul goes with them. Their ship burns and sinks en route, (the closest stock footage "Character" could find for a long shots actually show ships being torpedoed), and the survivors wash up on a scrubby island, the girl with the idler, Gilmore with his precious money, but he needs to be rescued, and promises all the dough if the fellow who disdains it saves him. He does, to teach him a lesson. Gilmore, ever the workaholic, does the hunting, builds huts and forts, etc, to be paid his own money back. Despite the AFI synopsis above, the men don't battle for the love or the lucre, but have a rather mild relationship, acting rather dull and civilized throughout. The muddled moral is that woman's love and irresponsibility is good, and that hard work, determination and a pile of cash is bad.
Gilmore has a face like Gene Lockhart, and seems a bit old for an action adventure, and this would be his last movie role. The Girl, Hazel Hudson, was apparently in some musical comedies, but she's not much of a movie actress, and this is her single credit. Frank Williams, as the interloper is equally as wooden. Nobody seems to have any feel for emoting at all. The camera hangs long on static shots, and titles break up conversations to pad it up when they didn't have to. It all seems like an amateur effort. Isle of Destiny would be the one and only "Character Pictures" release.
